The platform, called ‘The Conversation’, is an initiative by Belgian payment platform Bancontact, with support from the banking federation Febelfin and Safeonweb. They have found that young people are making their first payments at an increasingly early age: almost half have their first bank card before the age of 14.
The online platform simulates five everyday situations for teenagers, such as an Instagram promotion, a link sent by a friend, or a promise of easy money. It aims to test their instincts and offer practical advice on how best to respond.
For parents, it explains the types of fraud teenagers may encounter and the warning signs to look out for. The platform also offers practical tips on starting a non-judgemental conversation and agreeing on suitable precautions together.
A previous Bancontact study found that teenagers are more likely to fall victim to payment…
These frauds exploit emotional vulnerability and trust rather than technical weaknesses.
- Romance Scams: Scammers build long-term online relationships with victims, eventually fabricating a “crisis” (medical emergency, legal trouble, or travel costs) that requires the victim to send money.
- Pig Butchering: A hybrid scam where the criminal builds a romantic or platonic relationship to eventually “tutor” the victim in a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment.